Feeding and aligning device



Jan. 23, 1940. B. L. HENRY FEEDING AND ALIGNING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet; 1

Filed April 2, 1937 INVENTOR BEULAH Louszf/zwer Jan. 23, 1940. B. 1.. HENRY FEEDING AND ALIGNING DEVICE 4 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed April 2; 1937 mm .H M m o V T m0 Mm /H w MB B Jan..23, 1940. HENRY 2,187,900

FEEDING AND ALIGNING DEVICE Fileiq April 2, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet s I INVENTOR- .BEULAH Lou/2' HENRY WM Zs ATTORNEY Jan. 23, 1940. B. L. HENRY FEEDING AND ALIGNING mavxca 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 2. 1937 W w mu m mwmm H mm d Patented Jan. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 28 Claim.

This invention relates to typewriting machines, and more especially to an improved means for feeding superposed sheets in aligned or properly collated relation.

Because of slippage between record sheets or strips it has heretofore been proposed in the feeding of a continuous series of collated and superposed forms to provide marginal holes in the sheets to receive pins carried either by the main 1 typewriter platen or by some separate roller. Many of these proposals have been embodied in commercial machines and have been used with considerable success. Machines of this character, however, are open to the objection that the record 15 sheets used therewith must be specially prepared by preforming the marginal holes therein. This practice not only adds appreciably to the cost of the sheets but renders them unsightly.

It is therefore an object of the present invention tc provide a writing machine especially adapted for use with a continuous series of colted and superposed record sheets in which the need for preformed marginal holes is eliminated and in which the collated forms are positively fed I relative to the printing line in alignment and registery.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a feeding and aligning device which may be manufactured economically andbe easily 3. added to typewriters and the like already in use.

In achieving this object the present invention contemplates the provision of feeding and/or locking instrumentalities which may be supported on the usual paper lock bail, and controlled or 35 actuated by a simple mechanical connection to the usual platen shifting lever.

Many of the previously proposed means for positively-feeding sheets and maintaining them in registery were large and cumbersome, and g .40 often greatly impeded the regular feeding of the sheets toward or away from the platen.

Therefore, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a feeding and aligning device which will not impede the regular feeding of the sheets toward or away from the regular platen, and which may be easily and quickly moved to operative and inoperative positions relative to the platen. I 50 One feature flowing from the attainment of ing means entirely clear of the inlet, entrance or startingside of the platen. A complemental feature is the provision of a manual control for raising the locking means from the platen and sheets this object is theprovisi on of feeding and lockthereon, without moving the entire feeding and aligning device into an inoperative station.

Some of the previous proposals were in the nature of large rectangular frames with much supplementary mechanism rigidly secured to the 5 regular platen carriage; but, the considerable added weight imposed by such supplementary mechanism on the carriage increased the energy required to operate the typewriter, and made the machine less responsive or slower in operation.

It is an object of this invention to overcome these shortcomings.

Features of this invention resulting from the attainment of the last mentioned objective are the provision of a simple mechanism consisting of very few small and lightweight parts preferably carried by the usual paper lock bail.

v A paper release mechanism is usually provided on typewriting machines, which normally presses collated sheets against the platen.

The present invention may in some forms dispense entirely with such paper release mechanism; or, may be used in conjunction therewith. In the latter event, simple mechanism is provided by this invention to automatically condition the 5 paper release mechanism, which in its preferred form is merely a link joining the line spacing or platen shifting lever to the control lever for the paper release mechanism.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a writing machine of the above character in which the means for insuring a positive feeding of the collated sheets in alignment and registery is associated with the platen shifting or advancing means in such a way that it is moved into operative position upon actuation thereof.

To this end there is provided as a feature of the invention a feeding means, preferably in the form of pins,mounted for movement toward and with the platen, and which is so connected with the platen shifting means that upon actuation of the latter the pin means is moved inwardly to pierce the sheets and then be carried with the platen during its rotating and sheet advancing movement.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a locking means, preferably in the form of a pin or pins, which are normally in a position to pierce and lock the collated sheets to the platen, but which is connected with the platen 5o shifting means to be moved to an inoperative position away from the platen upon actuation of the shifting means.

A further feature of the invention consists in so associating the pin locking and the pin feed= connection between the pinion and the shaft ing means with the platen shifting means that the pin locking means is not withdrawn from the sheets until subsequent to the inward movement of the pin feeding means to pierce the sheets, thus insuring a positive maintenance of the collated sheets at all times in alignment and registery.

Another object of the invention is to provide.

a pin feeding means for insuring an advance of the collated sheets in alignment and registery which is readily adjustable to cooperate with sheets of various widths.

To this end there is preferably provided two pin carriers mounted on a shaft for rocking movement therewith to urge the pins toward the platen to pierce the collated sheets upon actuation of the platen shifting lever, one or both of the carriers being shiftable on the shaft axially of the platen for cooperation with wide and narrow sheets on the main platen.

Another object of the invention is to so actuate the pin feeding means that the lineal advance of the outer sheet or sheets of the collated forms is the same as that of the inner sheets.

In attaining the above object the pin means is so mounted that as it is carried with the platen upon the actuation of the platen shifting means the other portions of the respective pins are leaned backwardly to compensate for the difference in the radial distance between the axis of the platen and the inner and outer collated sheets which would normally cause a greater lineal travel of the outer sheets thus resulting in an uneven feeding.

Other and more specific objects and features will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view of a conventional typewriter carriage and platen showing one embodiment of my invention associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is an end view looking toward the right in Fig. 1 with a portion of the carriage removed to enable a clearer illustration.

Fig. 3 is an end view partly in section looking toward the left in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modification of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail view partly in section of the pin feeding means of the modification disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail view partly in section of the pin locking means of the modification disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the manner in which the platen shifting means and the pin looking and pin feeding means are associated inthe form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing a slightly modified means for connecting the platen shifting means and the shaft carrying the pin feeding and pin locking means.

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of the modification shown in Fig. 9 illustrating the yielding carrying the pin feeding and pin locking means. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail view showing a modified one-piece pin feeding and pin locking means.

Fig. 12 is a view looking toward the right of the modified pin feeding and pin locking means shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a top view similar to Figs. 1 and 4 but showing another modified form of the invention.

Fig. 14 is a partial sectional view taken on the line l4l4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 14A is an enlarged fragmentary and sectional view of the pin structure disclosed in Fig. 14.

Fig. 15 is a detail view showing a modification of the pin feeding means disclosed in Fig. 14.

Although the several forms of the present invention are shown applied to a conventional typewriter of the form used for correspondence it will be understood that they are equally applicable on tabulating, bookkeeping, accounting and other machines where it is desirable to maintain and feed collated sheets or strips in registry.

Before describing the present improvements and mode of operation thereof in detail it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, which are merely illustrative of the present preferred embodiments, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and the phraseology employedis for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and first to Figs. 1 through 3, there is shown for the purpose of illustration side frames and 2| of a conventional typewriter carriage supporting in recesses 22 and 23 respectively in the upper faces thereof a rotatable shaft 24 carrying a platen roller 25 of rubber or the like upon which superposed collated sheets of record material, such for example as original sheet 25 and duplicate sheet 21 with a carbon paper 28 therebetween, may be typed. Fingers 29 and 30 secured to the frames 20 and 2i by screws 3| serve in a well known manner to confine the shaft 24 in the recesses 22 and 23 for rotation therein. Conventional turning knobs 32 are shown at either end of the shaft 24 for rotating the platen 25.

As is also conventional, there is disclosed a platen shifting lever 33, preferably in the form of a bell crank, pivotally carried on an extension 34 on the side frame 20 which through a suitable linkage is connected with a pawl 35 for engagement with a ratchet wheel 36 fixed on the shaft 24 to impart a step-by-step rotary movement to the platen 25 upon actuation of the platen shifting lever 33 in a counter-clockwise direction. Any suitable spring means may be provided to return the shifting lever 33 in a clockwise direction after the completion of the platen rotating movement.

Now of particular importance there is inserted between the shifting lever 33 and a link 31 pivotally mounted on the shaft 2| and carrying the pawl 35, a link 38 adapted to support and carry inwardly therewith during the initial movement of the shifting lever and before the pawl 35 engages the ratchet wheel 35 a pin feeding means 39 which is pressed through the collated sheets or forms and pricks into the platen 25. The mounting of the pin feeding means is such that after a pin 40 associated therewith has pierced the collated sheets during the initial movement of the shifting lever 33, the rotation of the platen 25 by the subsequent movement of the shifting lever 33 causes the pin 40 to rotate therewith to lock the collated sheets to the platen and positively feed the same without slippage or shifting of the collated superposed sheets 25 and 21 relative to each other.

In thus associating the pin feeding means 35 with the platen shifting lever 33 to provide the advantageous feeding of the record sheets above described there is formed in the link 38 a channel 4| extending longitudinally thereof for receiving a slide block 42 having a depending arcuate portion 43 with a curvature substantially the same as that of the platen 25. Slidable association between the block 42 and the link 38 is maintained by a washer 44 secured to the block 42, as by a screw 45, and lapping the side of the link opposite the one adjacent the depending portion 43. A spring 46 connected to the link 38 and the slide block 42 normally maintains the latter at the left in the channel 4| as viewedin Fig. 2. Hence, with the construction just described the slide block is movable with the link 38 but is slidable to the right in the channel 4| against the tension of the spring 46.

Associated with the depending portion 43 of the block 42 and slidable upwardly and downwardly thereon is a carrier block 41 supporting the piercing pin 48 of the pin feeding means to extend inwardly toward the platen. Proper association and arcuate movement of the carrier block 41 on the depending portion 43 is achieved by forming beveled side walls 48 and 49 on the depending portion which are received in a groove 58 in the carrier block 41. A stop flange 5| at the lower end of the depending portion limits the downward movement of the carrier block on the depending portion and a spring 52 normally maintains the carrier in this lowered position as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, it is seen that when the pin feeding means is in an inoperative position spaced from the platen, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the slide block 42 is maintained at the left in the channel 4| and the pin 48 and the carrier block 41 are maintained in a lowered position on the depending portion 43.

In the operation of the pin feeding means 39, as will be readily understood from the drawings and the above description-when the shifting lever 33 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction the carrier block 41 and pin 48 are initially moved inwardly' so that the pin pierces the collated sheets and locks the same relative to each other and to the platen. Subsequent movement of the shifting lever and link is permitted by the spring 46 which permits the link 38 to move relatively to the slide block to cause platen rotating engagement between the pawl 35, and the ratchet wheel 36.

During the rotation of the platen 25 the carrier block 41 which is locked thereto by the pin 48 is caused to slide upwardly on the depending portion 43 and to thus positively lock the collated sheets to prevent relative movement therebetween during the entire rotary ,movement of the platen and to effect simultaneous movement of the collated sheets with the platen.

Upon a completion of the platen shifting movement'and upon a movement of the shifting lever ina clockwise direction, as by any movable spring means, the carrier block 41 and pin 48 are moved awayfrom the platen and then caused to return to the initial lowered position by the spring 52.

Preferably, in addition to the pin feeding means 39 at the left hand end of the carriage, as viewed in Fig. 1, there is also provided at the right hand end of the carriage a second and similar pin feeding means 53 pivotally associated with the side frame 2| to be v moved inwardly toward the platen upon an actuation of the shifting lever 33. ;The structure for thus pivotally supporting the pin feeding I means 53 includes a rod 54' pivotally mounted in the right side frame 2| as by passing through a hole 55 therein and prevented from dropping. out of the frame by a pin 56. An arcuate guide portion 51 similar to the arcuate portion 43 at the left hand side of the carriage is rigidly connected to the pivot rod 54 as by an intermediate rod 58 having a screw threaded connection with the lower end of the pivot rod 54 and a like connection with a flange portion 59 at the lower end of the arcuate guide portion 43. As with the feeding means at the left hand side of the carriage, the feeding means 53 includes a carrier block 68 carrying a piercing pin 6| and formed with a groove 62 to receive the beveled side walls 63 and 64 of the arcuate'guide portion 51. Also as with the feeding means 39 at the left hand side of the carriage, the carrier block 68 while slidable upwardly and downwardly on the arcuate guide portion is normally maintained in a lowered position against the flange 58 by a spring 65.

In order that the pin feeding means 53 may be operated concurrently with the feeding means 33 upon the actuation of the shifting lever 33 there is formed on the side of the pawl 35 a cam 66 which, upon a counter-clockwise movement of the shifting lever 33 engages one end of a rod 61 carried in a hollow shaft 68 pivotally associated with the side frames 28 and 2|, as by arms 69 and 18 respectively mounted on rigid supporting arms 1| and 12, to urge the rod to the right to engage a laterally extending portion 13 of the pivotally mounted rod 54 and cause the latter to move in a clockwisedirection to push the piercing pin 6| through the superposed collated sheets 26 and 21. Hence, the piercing pin 6| is caused to pierce the collated sheets concurrently with the pin 48 at the left hand side of the carriage and is likewise concurrently carried upwardly with the platen during the entire rotary movement thereof. If preferred, preformed holes 25' may be provided in the platen for the feeding pins to enter.

Upon a completion of the platen advancing movement the pawl 35 and cam 66 move to their initial position, thereby releasing the rod 61 and permitting a spring 14 connected to the right side frame 2| to swing the piercing pin carrying rod 54 in a counter-clockwise direction, thus releasing the piercing pin from the collated sheets and the platen and permitting the spring 65 to draw the pin carrier block 68 to a lowered position on the arcuate guide portion 51. 15 on the side frame 2| is engageable with the cross pin 56 to limit the counter-clockwise movement of the pivotally mounted rod 54.

With the above construction the advantageous pin feeding means of the present invention is normally maintained in a retracted and inoperative position but is moved into-an operative position concurrently with the actuation or initial movement of the platen shifting means to pierce the collated sheets and lock the same on the platen to prevent relative movement therebetween during the entire feeding operation.

Paper holding and feeding rollers 16 on the pivotally mounted hollow shaft 68 prevent the forward ends of the sheets from falling forwardly and serve to hold the collated sheets relative to each other and to the platen during the typing operation. If desired, as when it is wished to adjust the collated sheets; relative to the platen, the bail 11comprising the arms 69-and 18 and the hollow shaft 68 may be swung upwardly into a retracted position near the top or back of the machine without disconnecting any A stop screw ,50

of the parts as the rod 61 is of such a length I that it drops between the cam 66 and the laterally extending portion 13 of the pivotally mounted rod 54 when it is swung into the lowered position, as shown in Fig. l. A spring 18 is provided, connected to one of the pivotally mounted arms 69 and the rigid supporting arm. 1|

therefor to yieldingly maintain the paper holding and feeding rollers in a lowered position.

Feeding and locking type In the modification disclosed in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 there is provided a pin means 19 for looking the collated sheets intermediate the platen shifting operations as well as a pin means 80 cooperable to feed the collated sheets in alignment.

and registery during the platen shifting operation.

As in Fig. 1, there is illustrated in Fig. 4 side frames 20 and 2| of a conventional typewriter carriage supporting a platen of rubber or the like. Also as in Fig. l and as is conventional there is included the shifting lever 33 for operating the pawl 35 to engage with the ratchet wheel 36 to impart a step-by-step rotary movement to the platen. Likewise, there is provided a bail 8| pivotally associated with the side frames 20 and 2| by arms 82 and 83 pivotally mounted on the rigid supporting arms 1| and 12 to be swung upwardly and into a retracted position at the back of the machine. However, a shaft 84 rotatably carried between the arms 82 and 83 of the bail 8| is formed with a slot 85 extending longitudinally thereof and carries a sleeve 86 with a slot 81 likewise extending longitudinally thereof for purposes that will hereinafter be explained in detail.

Now of particular importance the pin locking means 18 includes a block 88 having a hub portion 88 encircling the sleeve 86 and locked to the shaft 84 formovementtherewithbyascrew 90 in threaded relation with the block and extending freely through-the slot 81 in the sleeve and into the narrower slot 85 in the shaft 84. The locking pin 9| is fixed in the underface of a rearwardly extending finger 92 on the block 88.

For normally maintaining the locking pin 9| in an operative relation with the collated sheets and the platen 25 when the paper lock bail 8| is in a lowered position and supported on the platen by the rollers 18, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, there is provided a flat spring 83 secured to one of the arms 82 of the bail 8| as by screws 94 and entering a slot 95 in the end of the shaft 84. This flat spring 93 thus serves to yieldingly maintain the locking pin 8| in operative position when the bail 8| is moved into a lowered position under the tension of springs 86 interposed between the pivotally mounted arms 82 and 83 and the supporting arms 1| and 12 respectively. In order that the bail 8| may normally be pulled down into fully operative position, as shown in Fig. 5, with the rollers 16 resting on the collated sheets the spring 93 is made of a lighter tension than the combined pull of the springs 96 which are stronger than usual bail springs. Thus when the bail 8| is moved into a lowered position with the pin 9| piercing the collated sheets and pricking the platen 25 the spring 93 permits the block 88 to be moved slightly under the influence of the springs 88 until the rollers 16 rest on the collated sheets.

Associated with the pin locking means 19 is a pin feeding means 80 including a block 91, pref-' erably made of two sections 98 and 99 secured together with screws I00, formed with a bifurcated hub portion |0| encircling the sleeve 86 on both sides of the block 88 and formed with a forwardly extending arcuate guide portion I02 which supports a slidable feeding pin I 03 adapted to pierce the collated sheets and hold them from slippage relative to each other during the rotation of the platen.

Preferably, and as disclosed, the feeding pin I03 is mounted in a carrier I04 slidable in an arcuate guideway I05 in the forwardly extending portion I02 of the block 91. Balls I06 in the guideway serve to permit free sliding movement of the carrier I04 while a pin I01 extending through slots I08 in the sides of the block serve to maintain the carrier in proper association with the guideway.

For connecting the block 91 to the rotatable sleeve 86 there are provided in suitable channels I09 in the bifurcated hub portion |0| one or more springs IIO with one end III suitably secured to the sleeve 86 in a slot I I2 extending longitudinal- 1y thereof and with the opposite end I I3 pressing against an end wall II 4 of the channel.

In order that the sleeve 86 may normally be urged in a clockwise direction about the shaft 84 with the side wall II5 of the slot 81 engaging the screw 90 and the pin I03 maintained in a raised and inoperative position as shown in Fig, 5 there is provided a spring finger IIB secured to the sleeve 86 at its upper end as by a yoke and screw connection In and connected at its lower end with the platen shifting lever 33.

Preferably, and as shown, this latter connection is provided by a pin 8 secured to an angle plate 9 on the shifting lever which enters a slot I20 at the lower end of the spring finger. This connection is advantageous in that it permits free movement of the bail 8| to an upper retracted position without the use of tools or any special adjustments. Moreover, it permits a likewise free return of the bail to a lowered and 0per'ative position.

In the operation of this form of the invention after the collated sheets have been properly positioned relative to the platen the bail 8| is swung from a retracted position into an operative position over the platen, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in which position as heretofore explained the locking pin 9| pierces the collated sheets to maintain them from movement relative to each other and slightly pricks into the platen 25.

When it is desired to shift the platen and the collated sheets thereon it is merely necessary to actuate the platen shifting lever 33 in the conventional manner whereupon the spring finger 6 connected to the shifting lever through pin 8 and slot I20, as best seen in Figs. 5 and 8, is moved in a counter-clockwise direction to push the feeding pin 03 through the collated sheets and into the platen. During this movement the block 88 and locking pin 8| remain in an operative position relative to the platen as permitted by the slot 81 and spring 0. However, after. the feeding pin I03 has been moved into an operative position relative to the platen the side wall I2I of the slot engages the screw 90 to turn the shaft 84 and associated block 88 in a counter-clockwise direction against the tension of the flat spring 93 to move the locking pin 9| upwardly from the platen and collated sheets just prior to the actual engagement of the pawl 35 with the ratchet wheel 36 to rotate the platen. This delayed movement of the locking pin is made possible by the slot 81 and the yielding spring II 0 between the block 81 and the sleeve 86 which permits further rotation of the sleeve after movement of the feeding pin I03 has been arrested by its engagement with the platen.

With the feeding pin thus moved to an operative position and yieldingly maintained therein by the spring finger H6 and the spring IIO, further movement of the shifting lever 33 causes the platen 25 to rotate and carry therewith during its entire rotary movement the feeding pin I03 which is slidably supported by the arcuate guide portion I02 and thus serves to positively lock the collated sheets relative to each other and to the platen during the entire feeding operation. Because of the fact that the feeding pin is movable by and with the platen it serves equally well to lock the collated sheets whether the platen shift' be one line or more than one line.

Upon a completion of the platen shifting move-' ment, the shifting lever 33 is permitted to return to its retracted position in the normal manner. The sleeve 86 is turned in a clockwise direction to move the side wall I2I of the slot 81 away from the screw 00 which permits the shaft 84 under the influence of the spring 83 to likewise turn in a clockwise direction to urge the locking pin 9| once more through the collated sheets and into the platen. During this initial rotation of the sleeve 86 the block 91 is maintained stationary with the feeding pin I03 in an upward position and in engagement with the platen due to the expansion of the spring I I0 which was compressed during the movement of the locking pin 9| away from the platen. Subsequent movement of the sleeve causes the arcuate portion I02 to be moved away from the platen and permits the carrier block I04 and the feeding pin I03 to return to their initial position at the lower end of the guideway I05.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the collated sheets are at all times locked relative to each other and to the platen by either the locking pin 9I or. the feeding pin I03, thus insuring the maintenance of the collated sheets in alignment and registery. If desired, however, a finger I22 may be secured to the shaft 84 to move the locking pin 9| to a raised position independently of the movement of the platen shifting lever in order to permit the collated sheets to be moved into proper registery or to be pulled from the machine without raising the paper lock bail M. This latter feature is desirable when the usual paper release mechanism is employed and when it is desirable to rotate the platen and sheets thereon with the knobs 32.

Preferably and as shown, there are associated with the shaft 84 and sleeve 86 two pin feeding and pin locking means and 19 respectively of the character described in order that positive locking of the collated sheets may be attained adjacent both marginal edges thereof. Of special importance it is to be noted, because of the longitudinal extending slots 81 and III in the sleeve 86 and a like extending slot in the shaft 84, it is possible by loosening the screw to shift either or both of the two pin feeding and locking means. axially of the platen to cooperate with the marginal edges of sheets of various widths.

Gear and rack type In Figs. 9 and 10 there is disclosed a slightly modified form of connection between the platen shifting lever 33 and the shaft 84. It includes a ,rack I23 secured to the shifting lever 33, as by screws I24, which cooperates with a gear I25 on the sleeve 86 to rotate the latter-concurrently with the platen shifting operation. A spring I26 secured at one end to a collar I 21 fixed to the sleeve 86 by a set screw I28 and at the other end to the gear I25, serves to achieve the desirable yielding effect of the spring finger II6 shown in Figs. 4 through 8. A stop pin I29 on the gear I25 and engageable with the collar I2'I limits the yield between the latter two members.

This connection while permitting a free movement of the bail 8| to a retracted position is more costly than the connection first described and is somewhat less advantageous.

Simplified form vIn Figs. 11 and 12 a simplified one-piece structure is disclosed for supporting the feeding pin I03 and locking pin 9|. It includes a block I30 having a hub portion I3I fixed to a shaft I32 by a screw I33 and provided with a rearwardly extending finger I35 for mounting the locking pin 9| and with a forwardly extending arcuate portion I36 for supporting the feeding pin I03. Preferably, as shown, the arcuate portion is made of two sections I31 and I38 secured together by screws I39 to facilitate manufacture.

As with the preferred form disclosed in Figs. 4 through 8 the forwardly extending portion I36 has formed therein an arcuate guideway I40 of substantially the same curvature as the platen for guiding a feeding pin carrier block I4I during the rotation of the platen 25 and after the feeding pin I03 has been moved inwardly to pierce the collated sheets. Also, as in Figs. 4 through 8, balls I42 are provided to facilitate the sliding of the carrier block, and a pin I43 is provided passing through slots I44 in the sides of the arcuate portion I36 serve to maintain the carrier block in the guideway.

\ With the modified one-piece block I30 the use of the slotted sleeve 86 is eliminated, the connection being directly to the shaft I32, and there is no delayed action between the locking pin 9| and the feeding pin I03. Hence, upon a rotation of the shaft I32 during the initial movement of the platen shifting lever 33 the locking pin 9| will be out of the collated sheets for a very short period of time just prior to the moving of thefeeding pin I03 into the sheets. In all other particulars the operation of the modified pin feeding and locking means is essentially the same as in the preferred two part form. Like in the preferred form, it is preferable to utilize two pin feeding and locking means mounted for movement axially of the platen to enable adjustment for cocpera- Differential type aligning device When a large number of sheets are on the platen there is danger of the outer sheets traveling a greater extent than the inner sheets.

The forms of the invention disclosed in Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are closely related to the form disclosed in Figs. 4 through 8.. However, in these modifications the feeding pin I55 is so supported and guided during its movement with the platen that exactly equal lineal feed of all of the superposed and collated sheets is achieved.

As in Fig. 4 there are shown in Fig. 13 side frames 20 and 2I of a conventional typewriting carriage, supporting for rotation a platen 25 of rubber or the like. Likewise as in Fig. 4 the Iongitudinally slotted sleeve 86 and the longitudinally slotted shaft 84 are carried between pivotally mounted arms I and I46 and are associated with each other and with the platen shifting lever 33 to be rotated during the platen shifting operation. Rollers 16 support the shaft 84 and sleeve 86 relative to the collated sheets and to the platen when the paper lock bail I41 is in a lowered position.

The structural differences between the modifled form in Figs. 13 and 14 and the form in Figs. 4 through 8 for achieving the advantageous guiding of the feeding pin I55 during the rotation of the platen include the provision of a pair of links I48 and I49 pivoted on pins I50 and I5I on each of the arms I45 and I46 and provided at their forward ends with rods I52 and I 53 extending axially of the platen to support carrier blocks I54 for feeding pins I55. Preferably, and as shown, the carrier blocks I54 are formed with holes to receive the rods I52 and I53 to properly space the latter relatively to each other. However, any suitable confining and locating means may be used for this purpose.

For moving the feeding pins I55 into the collated sheets upon an actuation of the platen shifting lever and subsequent to the moving of the locking pins 9| to a raised and inoperative position there is provided for each of the feeding pin carriers I54 a block I56 having a bifurcated hub portion I51 associated with the sleeve 86 and the locking pin block 88 in the same manner as the block 91 in Figs. 4 through 8. However, in the modified block I 56 the forwardly extending portion is in the form of a finger I58 adapted to overlie the pin carrier block I54 and is provided with a laterally extending stop flange I59 at its lower end for supporting the feeding pin carrier block I54 in the retracted and inoperative position shown in Fig. 14.

With the above construction when the sleeve 86 is rotated by the shifting lever 33 the finger portion I58 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction to engage the upper end of an enlarged shank portion I60 of the feeding pin I55 to push the latter relatively to the carrier block I 54 and through the collated sheets to prick the platen 25. For permitting movement of the pin I55 relatively to the carrier I54 while at the same time maintaining the pin in proper relation therewith there is formed in the carrier a guide bore I6I having an internal shoulder I62 engageable with a shoulder I63 on the enlarged shank I60 to prevent the pin from falling out of the carrier.

Upon rotation of the platen 25 by the engagement of the pawl 35 with the ratchet wheel 36 in the well known manner the feeding pin I55 and carrier I54 aremoved with the platen in the same general manner as in the form disclosed in Figs. 4 through 8. However, because of the links I46 and I49, the feeding pin I55 is leaned backwardly as it is carried upwardly with the platen in such a way that the outer end of the pin travels the same peripheral distance as the inner end of the pin. In this manner compensation is made for the difference in radial distance between the axis of rotation of the platen 25 and the inner and outer collated sheets which would normally cause a greater lineal travel of the outer sheets and thus result in uneven feeding.

In order that the pin I55 may be maintained in piercing relation with the collated sheets during rotation of the platen a guide channel I64 is formed in the finger and provides a back guide wall I65 which engages the upper end of the enlarged shank portion I60 and urges the pin I55 toward the platen as it moves therewith. Preferably a spring I66 is positioned in the guide bore I6I intermediate the shoulder I62 and the enlarged shank portion I60 to yieldingly maintain the end of the enlarged shank portion I60 of the pin I55 in contact with the back guide wall. Any needed yield of the pin I55 relative to the platen during rotation of the latter is afforded by the spring finger II6 with which the shifting lever 33 is connected to the sleeve 86 and by the yielding spring connection between the sleeve 86 and the hub portion I51 of the block I 56.

When the platen shifting operation is completed the sleeve 86 through its connection with the shifting lever 33 is turned in a clockwise direction causing the locking pin 9I to pierce the collated sheets. Concurrently it causes the depending finger I58 to move outwardly to permit the feeding pin I55 and carrier block I54 to swing outwardly and downwardly to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 14.

As in the form disclosed in Figs. 4 through 8, one or both of the two pin feeding and pin looking means may be adjusted longitudinally of the platen to cooperate with collated sheets of different widths by merely loosening the screws 90 with which the blocks I56 and 88 are clamped to the shaft 84.

In the modified construction disclosed in Fig. 15 for insuring, as does the feeding means of Figs. 13 and 14, an equal lineal feed of all of the superposed collated sheets a modified block I61 is provided for supporting afeeding pin I68. As in the block 31 disclosed in Figs. 4 through 8 the modifled block is formed with a bifurcated hub portion I69 encircling the slotted sleeve 86 and the slotted shaft 84. Similarly to the block 91, the modified block I61 is provided with a depending portion I10 having a guideway I1I for a feeding pin carrier block I12.

In the modified block I61, however, slots I13 in the side walls of the depending portion I10 serve as a cam track for a pair of pins I 14 on the carrier I12 to lean the latter backwardly relatively to the platen as it slides in the guideway I1I during the feeding of the collated sheets. A cam surface I15 provided by the back wall of the guideway and engageable with the carrier block I12 supplements the cam track I13 in leaning the carrier block backwardly relatively to the platen during rotation of the latter. The cam track I13 and cam surface I15 which thus cause the pin carrier I12 to lean backwardly are so shaped that equal lineal travel of the outer and inner ends of the feeding pin is achieved.

A spring I16 positioned in a guide bore I11 in the carrier block I12 and cooperable with the cam surface I15 at one end and engageable with a head I18 on the feeding pin I68 at the other end maintains the pin in piercing relation with the collated sheets and in contact with the platen during its rotation upon actuation of the shifting lever. An internal shoulder I19 in the guide bore I11 prevents the pin I68 from falling out of the carrier when the latter is in a retracted position.

With this modified feeding means, therefore, it is seen that after the depending portion I10 of the block I61 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction to force the pin I66 through the collated sheets and into the platen, that as the feeding pin I68 is carried upwardly with the platen it is leaned backwardly with the carrier I12 under the influence of the cam track I13 of predetermined curvature so that its peripheral travel is the same throughout its length. Hence, as with the link controlled feeding pin of Figs. I3 and 14, each of the superposed collated sheets is advanced an equal lineal distance each time the platen is shifted.

Upon a rotation of the sleeve 86 in a clockwise direction when the platen shifting lever 33 is returning to its normal position, the depending portion I10 is moved away from the platen in the same manner as the depending portion I82 in drops by gravity to its initial position atthe lower end of the guideway "I. If desired any suitable spring may be provided to aid in returning the carrier I12 to its lower position.

Under normal conditions the pin feeding means of Figs. 4 through 8 function in a highly satisfactory manner to feed the collated sheets in aligned and registering relation. Where a plurality of sets of continuous forms are to be fed through a machine, however, it may be advantageous to utilize the special feeding means of Figs. 13 and 14 or that shown in Fig. 15.

As shown in Fig. 1, in which form its inclusion is especially advantageous, there may be provided with each of the forms of the invention a means controlled by the platen shifting lever for moving the usual small pressure rollers underlying the platen to a material releasing-position. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, this means includes an L-shaped spring arm I80 with an intermediate bowed portion I8I, extending between and secured to the shifting lever 33 and a usual pressure release handle I82 with which all standard typewriters are equipped.

With this construction the handle I82 is moved to release the pressure rollers during initial movementof the shifting lever 33. Subsequent and platen rotating movement of the shifting lever is permitted by the flexing of the spring arm. Return of the shifting lever moves the handle I82 to pressure locking position. Hence, while the pressure rollers are normally maintained in operative position to hold the record material beneath the platen, they are automat-. ically moved to areIeasing position to prevent a drag on the sheets of record material during the platen rotating and-material feeding operation. In the illustration given, the releasing handle I82 is so associated with the pressure rollers that a rearward movement thereof is required to release the pressure rollers. If the handle is such that forward movement is required to release the pressure rollers it is merely necessary to reverse the L-shaped arm, as shown in dotted lines, so that its operative axis lies on the other side of the pivotal axis of the shifting lever.

A further device for automatically moving the usual pressure rollers to a material releasing position is shown in Fig. 5. Like the pressure release control illustrated in Fig. 1, this control may be advantageously provided with each of the forms of the invention.

This modified control means, unlike the one first described, is operable upon movement of. the paper lock bail 8| to a lower and operative position. It includes a cam I 83 on an arm 82 of the bail 8| which engages a projection I84 on the usual pressure release handle I82 to cause the latter to move to a pressure releasing position. Thus, when the bail 8 I, and also the pin means in Figs. 4 through 15, are swung to operative position the usual pressure rollers are automatically moved away from the platen to prevent any adversedrag on the material during the actuatio of the pin feeding means. 1

Figs. 4 through 8 and the feeding pin carrier I12 Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character described the combination of a platen for supporting superposed sheets; feeding means engageable with said sheets, and movable by and with said platen; locking means for said sheets on said platen; control mechanism for rotating the platen; and means operated by said control mechanism for rendering said locking and said feeding means respectively inoperative and operative.

2. In a device of the character described the combination of a platen for supporting superposed sheets; feeding means engageable with the sheets-and movable by and with said platen; locking means for said sheets; control means for rotating the platen; and means for rendering the feeding means operative and the locking means inoperative as the control means is operated in one direction, and for rendering the feeding means inoperative and the locking means operative as the control means is operated in the opposite direction.

3. In a device of the character described the combination of a platen; feeding pin means mounted for movement toward and with said platen; and a single means for moving said pin means into operative engagement with said platen while the latter is stationary and then subsequently rotating the platen to carry the feeding means therewith.

4. In a device of the character described the combination of a platen; locking means normally maintained in operative engagement with said platen; feeding means mounted for movement toward and with said platen; and means for moving said locking means and said feeding means respectively out of and into operative engagement with said platen and then subsequently rotating the latter to carry the feeding means therewith.

5. In a device of the character described the combination of a platen; locking means normally maintained in operative engagement with said platen; feeding means mounted for movement toward and with said platen; and means for successively moving said locking means and said feeding means respectively out of and into operative engagement with said platen and then subsequently rotating the latter to carry the feeding means therewith.

6. In a device of the character described the combination of a platen for supporting a writing sheet; feeding means for said writing sheet, having a retracted and an advanced position; and means for maintaining said feeding means in operative engagement with said platen and said sheet to be-moved from said retracted to said advanced position simultaneously with the platen and solely thereby during rotation thereof.

7. In a device of the character described the combination of a platen for supporting a writing sheet; locking means for said sheet, having operative and inoperative positions; feeding means for said sheet having operative and inoperative positions; control means for moving said platen, having normal and advancing positions, adapted when in said normal position to maintain said locking means and said feeding means respectively in operative and inoperative positions, when in said advancing position -to maintain said locking means and said feeding means respectively in their inoperative and operative positions, and at predetermined intervals to maintain both the feeding and the locking means in operative position.

8. In a device of the character described the combination of a platen for supporting a writing sheet; control means for rotating said platen; locking means; feeding means; means for locating said locking means and said feeding means in divers positions longitudinally of said platen; and means for moving said locking means and said feeding means respectively out of and into operative engagement with said platen concurrently with the operation of said control means.

9. In a device of the character described the combination of a platen; locking and feeding mechanism including locking means and feeding pin means, having operative and inoperative locations respectively adjacent to and remote from said platen; control means for operating said platen and for moving said locking means and feeding pin means toward and away from said platen when said locking and feeding mechanism is in said operative location; and a connection between said control means and said locking and feeding mechanism permitting free movement of the latter into and out of said operative location.

10. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a main platen upon which a plurality of sheets may be typed; platen shifting means; means for feeding the sheets; normally disconnected from said platen; and means controlled by said shifting means for moving said feeding means toward and into operative engagement with said platen to be advanced therewith and solely by said engagement.

11. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a main platen upon which a plurality of sheets may be typed; platen shifting means; means for normally locking said sheets; means for feeding said sheets; and means controlled by said shifting means, for moving said locking and said feeding means respectively out of and into operative engagement with said platen.

12. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a platen upon which a plurality of sheets may be typed; a platen shifting means; a pin means mounted for movement toward and then with said platen; guide means movable from a retracted position to force said pin means through said sheets and into engagement with said platen upon initial movement of said platen shifting means and to maintain said pin means in engagement with said platen to be moved therewith during subsequent and platen rotating movement of said shifting means; and means for operatively associating said platen shifting means and said guide means.

13. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a main platen upon which a plurality of sheets may be typed; a platen shifting means; a link in said shifting means; a guiding and supporting means movable with and slidable relatively to said link; yielding means for normally urging said guiding and supporting means toward said platen on said link; and pin means carried by and slidable on said guiding and supporting means, said pin means being movable with said guiding means from a normal retracted position toward said platen to engage the latter and pierce said sheets during the initial movement of said shifting means and being movable by and with said platen on said guiding means during the subsequent and platen rotating movement of said shifting means.

14. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a platen for supporting sheets; a platen shifting means; pin feeding means; pressure means for maintaining the sheets in engagement with said platen and movable from a normal operative to a releasing position; means operated by said platen shifting means for moving said pressure means from the operative to the releasing position upon actuation of said shifting means; and means for moving said pin means into an operative position upon actuation of said shifting means. I

15. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a platen for supporting sheets; a platen shifting means; pin feeding means; pressure means for maintaining the sheets in engagement with said platen and movable from a normal operative to a releasing position; a paper lock bail movable from a raised inoperative to a lowered operative position relative to said platen; means for moving said pressure means from the operative to the releasing position upon movement of said bail to its operative position; and means controlled by said shifting means for moving said feeding pin means into an operative relation with said platen.

16. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a main platen upon which a plurality of sheets may be typed; a platen shifting means; means for normally locking said sheets; means for feeding said sheets; means controlled by said platen shifting means for moving said locking means away from and into inoperative relation with said platen and for moving said feeding means toward and into operative relation with said platen; and means independent of said pla en shifting means for moving said locking means away from said platen.

17. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a main platen roller upon which superposed sheets may be typed; a platen shifting means; pin means mounted for movement toward and then with said platen to cooperate therewith for feeding said sheets; means connected with said shifting means for moving said pin means toward and into an operative relation with said platen upon actuation of said platen shifting means; and means for guiding said pin feeding means during its movement with said platen to cause substantially equal lineal movement of said superposed sheets.

18. In a device of the character described the combination of a platen for supporting a plurality of superposed sheets; a feeding pin mounted for movement toward and with said platen; means for forcing said feeding pin through said sheets into operative engagement with said platen and for subsequently rotating the latter to carry the feeding pin therewith; and means for guiding said feeding pin during its movement with the platen to achieve equal sheet advancing movement thereof throughout its length.

19. In a device of the character described the combination of a rotatable platen for supporting a sheet; pin feeding means movable toward, with and from said platen; means for normally maintaining said pin feeding means away from said platen; and means for moving said pin feeding means toward said platen to pierce said sheet and engage said platen to be carried forward therewith and solely thereby during its rotation, and for automatically moving said pin to be moved therewith and solely thereby from a retracted to an advanced position on the rotation thereof, and for moving said pin feeding means away from said platen subsequent to the rotation thereof to return the same from the advanced to the retracted position.

21. In a device of the character described the combination of a platen for supporting writingmaterial; a pair of pin feeding means spaced longitudinally of the platen and movable toward and with said platen; means for normally maintaining said pin feeding means away from said platen; and interconnected means for moving said pin means to pierce said sheets and engage said platen and for subsequently rotating said platen to advance the pin feeding means solely through its engagement therewith.

22. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a platen for supporting sheets; a platen shifting means; pin feeding means; pressure means for maintaining the sheets in engagement with said platen and movable from a normal operative to a releasing position; a pa-. per locking bail movable from a raised inoperative to a lowered operative position relative to said.

platen; means for moving said pressure means from the operative to the releasing position upon movement of said bail to its operative position;

and means for moving said pin means into an operative position upon actuation of said shifting means.

22. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a main platen upon which a plurality of sheets may be typed; platen shifting means; a pair of 'pin feeding means spaced longitudinally of said platen and cooperable therewith for feeding said sheets; means for normally maintaining said pin feeding means away from said platen; means for adjusting at least one of said pin feeding means longitudinally of said platen; and means for moving the pin feeding means toward said platen to pierce said sheets and engage said platen to be advanced therewith and solely thereby upon actuation of said platen shifting means.

24. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a platen upon which a plurality of sheets may be typed; platen shifting means; pin feeding means mounted for movement toward and then with said platen; and means including a spring member for connecting said shifting means and said pin feeding means for moving the latter during initial movement of said shifting means to pierce said sheets and engage said platen to be moved by and with said platen during subsequent and platen rotating movement of said shifting means.

25. In a device of the character described the combination of a platen; feeding pin means engageable with said platen; locking pin means engageable with said platen; control means for rotating the platen; and means for rendering the feeding pin means operative and the locking pin means inoperative as the control means is operated in one direction, and for rendering the feeding pin means inoperative and the locking pin means operative as the control means is operated in the opposite direction.

26. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a, main platen upon which a plurality of sheets may be typed; platen shifting means; locking means forsaid sheets; pin feeding means mounted for movement toward and then with said platen; and means for successively moving said pin feeding means into operative engagement with and said locking means away from said platen during initial movement of said platen shifting means, whereby upon subsequent and platen rotating movement of said platen shifting means thepin feeding means is carried by and with said platen.

27. In a. device of the character described the combination of a platen; locking means normally maintained in operative engagement with said platen; pin feeding means movable toward and then with the platen; platen shifting means; and means for moving said locking means and said feeding means respectively out of and into operative engagement with said platen and then subsequently rotating the latter to carry the feeding means therewith when the shifting lever is moved in one direction and for moving said locking means and said feeding means respectively into and out of operative engagement with the platen when the platen shifting means is moved in the other direction.

28. In a device of the character described the combination of a rotatable platen for supporting a sheet; pin feeding means movable toward, with and from said platen; pin means for locking said sheets and movable toward and away from said platen; and means for moving said pin feeding means and said pin locking means respectively toward and away from said platen to engage and disengage said sheet prior to the rotation of said platen, whereby upon rotation of the platen the feeding pin means is advanced therewith and thereby, and for-moving said pin feeding means and said pin locking means respectively away from and toward said platen to disengage and engage said sheet subsequent to the rotation of said platen.

BEULAH LOUISE HENRY.

CERTIFICAIE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,187,900. January 25, l9h0.

BEULAH LOUISE HENRY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 8, first column, line 51-, claim 12, after the word "position" insert toward said platen; line 56, 1 same claim, aft "therewith" insert and solely thereby: page 9, first column, line 2, claim 19, for "rotation of the platen" read feeding movement; andthat the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may confonn to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 12th day of March, A. D. 191 0.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

